Collapsible cleat



June 5, 1951 MlLLER 2,555,805

COLLAPSIBLE cum Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet: 1

JNVENTOR. George D. Miller BY fab/ $6 M Many;

June 5; 1951 Filed March 4, 1950 G. D. MILLER COLLAPSIBLE CLEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W li,

- INVENTOR. George D. Miller Mtnegs Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CLEAT George D. Miller, Providence, R. I.

Application March 4, 1950, Serial No. 147,700

Claims.

This invention relates to a cleat for belaying rope and is designed particularly for use on the deck of a vessel.

Cleats usually are mounted on the deck of a vessel with its belaying end spaced from the deck so that the rope may be passed about it. The cleat in such a mounting stands up from the deck and makes walking on the deck somewhat hazardous, especially at night, and also articles of clothing, sails or other gear used on the vessel may catch on such a cleat.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a cleat which when not in use may disappear into the surface of the desk and lie substantially flush therewith.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a cleat which may be easily raised from the deck for use when desired.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pair of belaying members. one of which when raised will cause the other one to be raised for use in belaying rope about them.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cleat when not in use;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the belaying members raised and a rope in dotted lines about them;

Figure 4 is a sectional view online 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the belaying members of the cleat;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction;

Figure 7 is a sectional View on line l'-'I of Fig ure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the belaying members in raised position and a rope in dotted lines about them; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of one of the belaying members of the modified form.

In proceeding with this invention I provide a recess in the flat surface in which I desire to mount a cleat and pivot two belaying members in this recess in tandem relation with the pivot points of the members near the adjacent ends of the members so that when the adjacent ends of the members are depressed, the distant ends of the members are raised into a position about which a rope may be wound for belaying purposes. In order that the belaying members may be raised only to a certain position, their inner ends engage the bottom of the recess to form a stop for their pivotal movement. In order that the entire cleat may be a single unit, a base which may fit into the recess in which base the members are pivoted is utilized for providing a unit assembly of the entire cleat structure.

With reference to the drawings, It designates a deck which may be of wood shown in section at H as having substantial thickness. A recess I2 is formed in the surface [0 or a sufficient depth to receive a shallow trough-dike base It which if flanged as at M at its upper edge to set into a shallow mortise E5 in the deck It to receive it. This shallow trough-like base is shaped at its upper edge 16 substantially in the shape of the belaying member which is to fit therein. The wall of this shallow base is usually formed as a casting with certain thickened portions as at I! to form stops, as will be later pointed out. Screws it are utilized through the flanges I4 for holding the base into the recess 12 and mortise l5 in the deck Ill. The hollow trough of the base also forms a recess [9 for the belaying members.

The pair of belaying members designated generally 20, and shown in perspective in Figure 5, are shaped as shown in Figure 5 having a flat upper surface 2| with a periphery 22 which will be substantially the shape of the upper edge of the hollow recess [9 of the base to close this recess when in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and will be thickened at its ends as at 23 and 24 with a narrow portion 25 between. A pivot pin 26 will extend through an opening ii in each member 26 laterally of the length thereof so as to pivotally mount the member 28 in the side walls of the trough like base. These members 20 are pivoted in tandem relation with their inner square ends 2'! in adjacency when lying flush with the deck 10 and flange ll, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the trough entirely closed. When in this position, the portion 24 of each of the members engages the projection l1 extending upwardly from the inner surface of the bottom of the trough or recess so as to support the members in this flush position. However, when it is desired to use the members, it is merely necessary to simultaneously press upon the inner ends 21 of the members, to move them to the position shown in Figure 3 and then belay rope 28, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, about them. When the rope is removed the weight of 3 the members at their distant ends is such that they will drop back into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and lie flush with the deck. When the members 20 are raised, the under portion 29 of each of these members will contact the bottom wall of the recess in which they are mounted, as clearly shown in Figure 2, so as to form a stop and limit the upward swinging movement of the members.

In some cases, however, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, the belayi'ng member designated 30 (see' Fig. 9) will have its inner end 3| provided on one sidewith a recess 32 and on the other side a projection 33. The companion member 30 will likewise be provided with a recess 32' and a projection 33' so that the projections 33-" will extend into the recess 32, as shown in Figure- 8, while the projection 33 will extend into the recess 32'. By this arrangement when the inner end of one of the members 30 or 30 is depressed, the: projection bearing. in the recess of the op:- posite member will cause the opposite member to. also be depressed suchas shown in Figure '7. When the outer ends of these members 39 and 3G are raised; the member 38 will have the under surface 35 of its inner portion engage in a notch 36 in the bottom surface 31 of the hollow or recess I901 the*base,,whi1ethe' portion 38 of the opposite member 30' will engage: the inner surface of the bottom of the base to limit its upward movement. The point of pivoting relative to the base and the inner surface of the base will. be such that the proper angle of swinging movement of each of the members will: be had for the proper positioning of the members for belaying, a rope,. as may be desired.

In some cases. as shown in Figures. 6 to 8;. the base may be slightly projected above the deck Hi and in this case the: edges of the base: at 49 will be beveled so as tomore readily; permit any part which comes in contact therewith to: slide over this portion of the-base.

I claim:

1'. In combination a deck presenting. an area 4 having a fiat surface with a recess therein, a pair of elongated belaying members located in said recess in tandem relation and in a retracted position lying substantially flush with said fiat surface, a pivot pin extending laterally of each member near the end thereof which is adjacent the other member whereby the members may be swung on their pivots so that the distant ends of the members may be raised above said flat surface in working position for rb'ela ying purposes and held by the Work in raised position and so as to drop back into the recess-by gravity when the work is removed.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the adjacent ends of said members contact the bottom or said recess to limit the upward swinging movement of the distant ends of said members.

3 The combination of claim 1 wherein the adjacent ends of said members interlock so that when one member swings about its pivot the other: one will also swing about its pivot.

4.- The combination of claim 1 wherein the distant ends of said members contact the bot tomof said recess to limit the downward swing ing movement of the distant ends of said membe'rs.

5 The combination of claim 1 wherein a base set intosaid recess and said pivot pins are mounted in said base.

GEORGE :o. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 36,696 Andrews Oct. 21', 1862 391,526 Foran Oct. 23; 1888 525,624 Sabroe Sept. 4', 1894 1,299,529 Young Apr. 8', 1919 1,402,496 Hofiman Jan. 3'; 1922 

